A Sixth Grader Just Found a 1,500-Year-Old Luxury Gemstone and Archaeologists Are Stunned

ATLANTA - June 5, 2026 - PRLog -- During an educational excavation at Korazim National Park, operated by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, a rare deep-blue Nicolo gemstone was discovered, dating back to the Roman or Byzantine period-approximately 1,500 years ago.

The stone was found by Alon Horowitz, a sixth-grade student at the Ramat Korazim Regional Elementary School. He uncovered the find just minutes before the activity concluded.The excavation took place as part of an annual educational-community initiative.

According to excavation director Dr. Achia Kohn-Tavor, the stone is a Nicolo, a prestigious type of agate widely used in the Roman world for jewelry and signet rings. In antiquity, such stones were considered a clear status symbol, reflecting wealth, luxury, and high social standing. The find provides direct evidence that alongside agriculture and daily life, ancient Korazim also had a culture of ornamentation, trade, and luxury.

Dr. Dror Ben-Yosef, archaeologist and Heritage Coordinator for the Northern District of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, said: "Finding a gemstone used for jewelry is an exceptional and particularly exciting event in the archaeology of the Land of Israel. The educational excavations we lead at national parks and heritage sites are not only scientific work - they are a central educational pillar aimed at creating a direct and meaningful connection between the younger generation and the history and roots that belong to all of us."

Alon Horowitz, the student who made the discovery, shared his excitement:
"After three days of digging, about ten minutes before we finished, I was digging with my trowel and suddenly saw something blue, round, and special. I picked it up and showed it to the archaeologist. When I understood it was something rare, I felt really happy and proud. I received a lot of appreciation from my friends, teachers, and family."

Korazim National Park is located on a basalt hill on the Korazim Plateau in the Upper Galilee, a few kilometers north of the Sea of Galilee, overlooking the Jordan Valley. The site preserves impressive remains of an ancient Jewish village that existed for around a thousand years, from the Second Temple period (about 2,000 years ago) through the 11th century CE.

"It's amazing to see a young student uncover something so meaningful," said Lorin Maugery, Consul Director for the Southern United States, Israel Ministry of Tourism. "It's discoveries like this that show why experiencing Israel for yourself is so powerful. You're not just learning history, you're encountering it firsthand."

Over the years, coins and pottery fragments have been uncovered at the site, but the discovery of such a luxury gemstone during a youth excavation is highly unusual.

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